Types of Service Dogs and How to Apply for One

Service Dogs for Veterans Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan
Dog Tags: Service Dogs for Those Who’ve Served Us was established by Puppies Behind Bars to provide service dogs to veterans returning Iraq and Afghanistan and who have suffered a physical injury, traumatic brain injury or exhibit Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In February 2008, our first Dog Tags pup, Pax, was paired with Bill Campbell, an Iraq War veteran who suffers from PTSD.  Pax helps to remind Bill to take his daily medications, and has been trained to “reverse heal” which enables Bill to go out in public.  He warns Campbell of any potential danger or approaching strangers and always watches his back by sitting backwards at Bill’s side.  Additionally when Pax lies at Bill’s side, he will sit up when someone is approaching, thus lessening Bill’s fear of people approaching him.

Puppies Behind Bars is supplying service dogs to veterans completely free of charge. Additionally we pay 100% of the transportation and boarding costs for the veteran and a family member to attend training at the service dog school for two weeks and learn how to work together as a team with the dog.  In addition, we cover the service dog training fee ($3,000-$6,500) that the service dog schools normally charge.

To learn more about Dog Tags, download the brochure. For information on how to APPLY for a Dog Tags service dog, download the application.

Service Dogs for Children and Adults with Special Needs
Puppies Behind Bars raises service dogs to help people with different needs including children with autism and individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. The pups that we raise go on to assist a wide variety of people with a range of disabilities.  Recent placements include Jordan who was paired with a 7 year old boy with autism, Virginia who assists a 17 year old boy with multiple sclerosis and Teddy Bear who works to help a woman suffering from bipolar disorder.

Service dogs provide a variety of functions including retrieving a dropped telephone, opening the refrigerator and taking out an item, loading a washing machine and dialing 911 and opening and holding doors so those in wheelchairs can pass through. 

However, equally crucial is a dog’s role in breaking down social barriers by being a best friend and loyal companion.  It’s never easy to live with a disability but users of service dogs repeatedly claim that having a dog by their side distracts attention away from their disability and projects focus on them as individuals with steadfast companions by their side.  Social gaps between an autistic child and his siblings and peers can be bridged as everyone approaches to greet and meet their wonderful dog.  Ultimately a service dog can help facilitate introductions, foster relationships and generate new friendships.  Confidence is built daily as the individual interacts with his dog, who only views him as a friend for whom he would do anything.

Service dog puppies are raised by inmates for eighteen months and learn up to eighty commands after which the dog is tested and if accepted, continues his training at one of three service dog schools with whom we partner.  The dog is paired by the school with a special needs individual and together the team participates in a mandatory training at the service dog school for two weeks.

To apply for a service dog, please contact Puppies Behind Bars at 212.680.9562 and we will refer you to the appropriate service dog school with whom we have a partnership.